Transcript of Judgment

When a judgment is entered
in the Civil Court it is enforceable for a period of twenty years
for money only, it is not a lien against real property. Nor is a
judgment entered in one county a lien
on real property in any other county. If a judgment-creditor wishes
to enforce a judgment against real property, he or she must follow
the procedure below for "transcripting" the judgment.

A transcript is a paper containing the essential information of
the judgment, certified by the clerk in the county where the judgment
is entered.

The judgment-creditor must apply to the clerk of the court in which
the judgment was entered for a transcript and then file the transcript
with the county clerk of the county in which the court is located
(the home county). To find out the fee for filing a transcript of
judgment, click on court fees. The judgment
then becomes a realty lien in that county.

In order to make the judgment a lien in other counties, a judgment-creditor
must ask the county clerk in the home county to issue a transcript
of judgment and then file the transcript with the county clerk of
any other county within the state where the judgment-debtor owns
property. A judgment-creditor may have as many transcripts issued
by the home county clerk as he or she requests for filing in multiple
counties. There is a separate fee for each transcript issued. To
find out the fee for issuing a transcript of judgment, click on
court fees.

Example:
A judgment is entered in the Civil Court Queens County. The judgment-creditor
believes the defendant may have real property in Orange County and
other counties in New York State. The judgment creditor must obtain
a transcript from the Queens Civil Court and file it in the Queens
County Clerk’s Office. For a fee the judgment creditor may
obtain as many transcripts from the Queens County Clerk as necessary
for filing in as many counties as he or she requests.

Similar steps can be taken to enforce a federal, sister state or
foreign country judgment against real property. Ask the judgment
clerk in your county for more information. Click on Locations
to find where to go.